coates



(No Model.)

G. H. GOATES.

FINGER NAIL CUTTER. No. 350,720. Patented Oct. 12, 1886.

N. PETERS, Plmtniiihngmphcn Wishlllgk)", D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

GEORGE Il'. COATES, OF \VOROESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

FINGER-NAIL CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,720, dated October12, .1886.

Application filed June 4,1884. Renewed June 3, 19%. Serial Np. 204,104.(No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE H. COATES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State ofll/Iassachusetts,haveinvented anew and useful Improvement in Finger-NailGutters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,illustrated by the accompanying drawings, upon an enlarged scale, inwhich Figurel isa view ofinyimproved nail-cuttcr. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view of the inclosing-sheath or handle, showingthe interior clamping-tube. Fig. 3 is a view of the clampingtube. Figs.4 and 5 show side and top views of the cutter detached from the handle.Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the cutter, and Fig. 7 is an end view ofthe clamping-tube shownin side view in Fig. 3-.

Similarletters refer to like parts in the several views.

My invention relates to the nail-cutter itself, and also to theinclosing handle or case, and to a clamping device for holding thecutter in proper position.

A is the handle or case, consisting ofa shell with its diametercontracted at one end, as at B. In the shell A is a. sliding tube, 0,with a cap, D, attached to one end, which forms a ferrule inclosing theend of the shell A. The opposite end of the tube 0 is made slightlyflaring for a short distance, as shown at F, fitting the section F inthe shell having acorres'ponding taper or incline. The tubeO is splitfor the greater portion of its length, forming aslot, E, which is closednear the open end of the tube by alug, H,entering a correspondingopening, H, and forming a bar extending across the slot E. A spring, b,on the tube 0, inclosed in the cap D and acting against the end of theshell or case A, serves to draw the flaring end F of the tube into theincline F, thereby bringing the divided halves of the tube together andcontracting the slot E. By sliding the tube 0 into the shell A andcompress ing the spring I) the flaring end F is carried below theincline or tapered section F, the elasticity of the tubeOcausing it toassume its normal position, opening the slot E. The cut ter is formed ina sliding blade, I, inclosed in the shell A, with one end entering thesplit tube 0. Projecting from one side of the sliding blade I is a pin,G, which enters the slot E on one side of the tube, and is clamped bythe edges of the slot when the halves of the tube 0 are broughttogether. When the sliding blade I is drawn out of the handle, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2, the pin G is brought against the bar H, preventing itfrom being drawn out of the handle. The slot Eis also slightly enlargednext the bar H at G G, Fig. 8, so as to partially inclose the pin G, andpre vent the blade I from being pushed in until released by the openingof the slot. .By pressing on the cap D and sliding the tube (J downward, allowing the slot E to open, the blade I can be pushed in orallowed to slide in by its own gravity by holding that end of the handleupward. As soon as the pressure upon the cap D is removed, the tensionot'the spring I), acting on the tube 0, causes the slot E to be againcontracted, holding the pin Gand blade Ii n any desired position alongthe length of the slot E. The cutter is formed in the blade by sawingthrough the blade from edge to edge with a circular saw, forming amortise with its ends curved, as formed by the periphery of the saw,said ends making an acute angle with the edge (I of the blade, producingcutting-edges at a a, and thus leaving the sides of the blade free toreceive the teeth of a file, J, Fig. 1.

I am aware that fingernail cutters have been made by forming a mortisein a blade whose ends made acute angles with the sides of the blade.Such a cutter was shown in the Letters Patent No. 205,088; but the slotwas cut through from side to side of the blade, forming a mortise on thetwo flat sides of the blade, which prevent their being employed toreceive the file-teeth. In the cutter referred to the end walls of theslot are beveled and sharpened to form cuttingedges, a method which ispermitted when the slot is formed from side to side of a thin blade; butin my present invention the slot is formed from edge to edge of a blade,which must be ot'sufficient width to allow a file to be formed on itsside, and as the angles at a a, between the edge d and end walls of theslot, must be very acute in order to secure sharp cutting-edges, themortise on the oppose edge of the blade would be too long to bepracticable were the end walls of the slot beveled, as described in thepatent above referred to. The cutting-edges may be easily sharpened bygrinding the 7 center.

plane surface of the edge (I. The width of the opening L should besuited to the depth of cut desired, as when one of the cuttingedges aare used in paring the nail the opposite cutting-edge serves as a gage,determining the depth of the out as the curved outline of the nailenters the opening, and, resting against the two cutting-edges a a, itis evident that a shaving can only be removed by pressing the nailagainst one of the cuttingedges equal to the amount of the nail reachingbelow the line of the side (1. By this form of a cutter I am able togage the maximum width of the paring cut from the nail, and also to forma continuous curved line on the end of the nail when out. The doublecutting-edges permit the nail to be cut from each side toward the centerwithout changing the cutter, one cutting-edge being drawn against thenail from one side to the center and the opposite edge pushed againstthe nail from the opposite side to the The outer end of the blade Iterminates in a point, K, for cleaning the nails, and upon one side ofthe blade I cut a file, J. .If desired, the blade I may have attached toits inner end a button-hook, tooth-pick, lead or crayon holding tube, orsimilar article. In Figs. 4 and 5 the broken lines N show a toothpick soformed at the end of the sliding .blade I. In the end or head of the capD, I form a slot, P, through which the article so formed on the end ofthe sliding blade may pass beyond the handle, both utensils beinginclosed when the pin G is held in the slot E midway between the ends.The interior end of the blade I is made to fit the tube 0, so the blade,when withdrawn, as shown in Figs. 1 and .2, will be held by the tube 0,and also at B by the shell A, aflording a firm support. A-shoulder maybe formed on-the interior surface of the tube, to act as a stop againsta similar shoulder on the blade, in order to prevent the blade frombeing drawn out; but I consider the use of the pin G and bar Hpreferable, as the pin, entering the enlarged portion of the slot E atG, rigidly holds the blade from sliding into the handle. 1

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The finger-nail cutter consisting of a metallic baror blade having aslit or mortise extending through the bar,with the end walls of the slitor mortise forming an acute angle with one side of the bar or blade, soas to form cut ting-edges, said end walls being curved for the purposeof forming sharp cutting-edges on one side and reducing the length ofthe mortise on the other side of the blade, as and for the pun pose setforth.

2. The combination, with a hollow shell or case forming a handle, of ametallic bar or blade sliding therein and having a mortise or slitextending through said bar, one or both ends of said slot making anacute angle with one side of said bar or blade and forming a cuttingedge, said ends of the slit being curved, as and for the purpose setforth.

3. The finger-nail cutter consisting of a blade having file-teeth formedupon its flat sides, and having a slit or mortise extending through saidbladefrom one plane side or edge to the other, the end walls beingcurved, as described, and forming acute angles with one of the planesurfaces of the blade, as and for the purpose set forth.

r 4. The combinatiomwith ashell or casehav ing on its interior surfacean incline or tapering section, of a split elastic tube sliding in saidshell or case, with its split end flaring to fit the tapering section ofthe shell, a spring acting on the sliding tube to draw its flaring endagainst the inclined surface of the shell, thereby contracting thediameter of the tube, and a sliding bar or blade carrying a nail-cutter,as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination,with a shell or case having an interior incline ortapered section, of a sliding split tube having an exterior incline ortapered section fitting the tapered sectionin the shell, and having aslot, E, and a lag or bar, H, extending across said slot, and a slidingblade, I, carrying a nail-cutter, and having a pin, G, entering the'slotE, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combinatiomwith a split elastic tube having a slot, E, with acircular enlargement, G, of a sliding blade, I, pin G,'entering the slotE, and means for compressing the split elastic tube and contracting theslot E upon the pin G, as and for the purpose set forth.

' 7. The combination, with the shell A, sliding split elastic tube 0,and blade I, held in the tube 0, substantially as described, of the capD, having slot P, to allow the end of the blade to pass through the cap,as "and for the pur pose set forth.

enoncn H. GOA-TBS. I h

